Hartford Insurer Partners with UConn on Workplace Safety Research

The Hartford's $1.5 million investment will fund research into heat safety, energy innovation, and loss prevention.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:05am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a polished metal data server tower, a sleek battery pack, and a transparent fuel cell module, conceptually representing the role of emerging energy technologies in the future of the insurance industry.Innovative energy technologies like battery storage and fuel cells are the focus of new research collaborations between insurers and universities.Hartford Today

The Hartford, a major property-casualty insurer, is expanding its partnership with the University of Connecticut to fund research aimed at improving worker safety, lowering business losses, and reducing insurance claims. The initial $200,000 investment is part of a $1.5 million commitment through 2029 that will also support housing scholarships for UConn students in downtown Hartford. Key areas of research include collaborating with UConn's Korey Stringer Institute on heat safety strategies and exploring energy innovations like battery storage and fuel cells to power the growing need for data centers.

Why it matters

This partnership represents a shift in the insurance industry towards a more proactive, prevention-focused approach. By investing in research to reduce workplace risks and losses, The Hartford aims to offer more valuable policies to its customers while also lowering its own claims payouts over time. The collaboration also highlights the growing importance of emerging technologies like IoT and AI in the insurance sector.

The details

The Hartford's investment will fund several research initiatives with UConn. One area is collaborating with the university's Korey Stringer Institute, which focuses on preventing sudden deaths from heat-related illness. The institute has worked with large employers like UPS and Delta Airlines on heat safety strategies. The Hartford's partnership will allow the institute to leverage the insurer's connections with thousands of companies. Another focus is energy innovation, including research on battery storage, fuel cells, and renewable energy to power the growing demand from data centers.

  • The Hartford will initially invest nearly $200,000 as part of a $1.5 million commitment through 2029.
  • The new UConn housing scholarships for downtown Hartford students will begin this fall.

The players

The Hartford

A major property-casualty insurance company that is expanding its partnership with the University of Connecticut.

University of Connecticut (UConn)

A public research university that is collaborating with The Hartford on workplace safety and energy innovation research.

Korey Stringer Institute

A not-for-profit organization based at UConn that focuses on research and education around preventing sudden deaths from heat-related illness, particularly among athletes, workers, and the military.

A. Morris "Mo" Tooker

The president of The Hartford, who will be the keynote speaker at the InsurTech America Symposium in Hartford this week.

Doug Casa

The chief executive of the Korey Stringer Institute and a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut.

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What they’re saying

“What's the game-changer with The Hartford is they have a connection with thousands of companies at one time as opposed to us working individually with companies.”

— Doug Casa, Chief Executive, Korey Stringer Institute

“If we can help do the research and help the customers reduce their risk profile, that means we have fewer risks, and we can charge them less money. So there's no doubt there is a longer-term risk management opportunity here that we avoid losses over time with the customer.”

— A. Morris "Mo" Tooker, President, The Hartford

What’s next

The Hartford's president, A. Morris "Mo" Tooker, will deliver the keynote address at the InsurTech America Symposium in Hartford this week, where he is expected to discuss the company's partnership with UConn and its focus on prevention-based insurance policies.

The takeaway

This partnership between The Hartford and UConn represents a strategic shift in the insurance industry towards a more proactive, research-driven approach to risk management. By investing in workplace safety and energy innovation research, The Hartford aims to reduce losses for both itself and its customers, ultimately leading to more affordable and valuable insurance policies.